AJ Styles has been an iconic part of WWE since he made his debut back in 2016, but recently, fans started thinking The Phenomenal One might be leaving the company. So, what’s led to such speculation, and is there any truth to it? Here’s a breakdown.
Is AJ Styles actually leaving WWE?
No, AJ Styles is not leaving WWE.
The rumors took off when TNA aired a segment teasing Styles’ return on their weekly Impact Wrestling broadcast. The segment ended with a close-up of Styles’ classic “P1” merch, something longtime fans immediately recognized. Just hours later, TNA posted a full graphic confirming Styles’ return at Slammiversary 2025, fueling speculation that he might be jumping ship.
Moreover, the timing of this tease, while Styles is in the middle of a heated WWE match, only added to the rumor. Many began to believe that the wrestling icon was wrapping up his WWE tenure to return home to TNA.
In reality, AJ Styles is not leaving WWE because earlier this year, WWE and TNA entered into a historic multi-year partnership. This deal opened the door for cross-promotional appearances, allowing WWE stars to appear at select TNA events and vice versa. As a result, Styles’ Slammiversary appearance was made possible without any breach of contract.
On top of that, Styles signed a one-year contract extension with WWE earlier in 2025. This means he will be with the company until 2026. The agreement has already led to stars like Joe Hendry appearing in NXT. Styles also participated in the Royal Rumble and even faced Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41. Overall, these precedents make Styles’ TNA appearance less of a surprise and more of an exciting byproduct of the new partnership.
AJ Styles is still very much in the mix on WWE programming. He is currently lined up to challenge Dominik Mysterio for the Intercontinental Title. Dominik claimed an injury, which led WWE to postpone the match originally scheduled for Night of Champions. With SummerSlam 2025 around the corner, fans are hoping that’s when the showdown finally happens.
